Village Buys Truck Using Water and Sewers Funds Written by Lisa Goodwin - The Village Board approved a $150,000 purchase of a lift truck using water and sewer funds. This type of truck, sometimes called a “cherry picker” or “bucket truck”, is an aerial lift, commonly used to maintain streetlights or traffic lights, perform roof repairs or remove trees. Trustees Tony Reyes, Tim Allen and James Hughes objected to using water and sewer funds to purchase a vehicle that has little to nothing to do with maintaining water and sewer infrastructure underground. In fact, the Village also plans to use this vehicle to remove ash trees with Emerald Ash Borer problems rather than sub-contracting the service. Ultimately, Trustees Jack Bajor, Jim McCurdy and Phil Mustes voted in favor of using these funds, while Reyes, Allen and Hughes did not. Village President Erik Spande broke the tie and also voted to use Water and Sewer funds. The Village currently owns a late-1980s truck that needs to be replaced. There is no question that Winfield Public Works needs an aerial lift truck. It is a standard vehicle for any public works department. However, as Winfield residents are aware, our water and sewer charges will continue to increase until 2015. By 2015, the minimum rate will be $21.58, or 23 percent higher than today. Residents have been told that the increases were necessary to cover the repayment of a bond issuance in 2003 as well as cover increasing costs in our water supply, and provide funding for repair and replacement of the infrastructure. By definition, the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund can only be used for water and sewer related projects and their share of administrative expenses related to those activities. Trustee Allen felt that it was illegal to use these specific funds for the purchase of an aerial lift truck. Generally speaking, a municipality cannot use enterprise funds to pay for expenses not covered by the definition of the fund. Bajor, McCurdy, Mustes and Spande did not explain their rationalization, and convinced themselves that it was appropriate to use the Water and Sewer Fund for an aerial lift truck. Even if the expenditure was legal, Winfield should hope the Village Board is not continuing to rob Peter to pay Paul, only to create yet another shortfall in the Water and Sewer fund that will be passed on to the residents in the future. villagechronicles.net/home/item/3125-village-buys-truck-using-water-and-sewers-funds
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:55:24 +0000
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